Canada Express Entry- Eligibility, Visa Process & Points Requirements

Key Highlights

What is the Canada Express Entry System?
Eligibility Criteria - Canada Express Entry 2020
Check your CRS Score!
Documents Required & How to Apply?
Cost & Processing Time
Other Express Entry FAQs

"Of the 1.3 million new permanent residents that Canada is planning for by the end of 2021, nearly a quarter - 331,000 - are projected to come through the three economic immigration classes managed by Express Entry, based on their annual targets." - CIC News

The Canada Express Entry process follows a points-based system called a Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS. Points are allotted to applicants based on skills, experience, employment history, and provincial/territorial nomination.

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What is the Canada Express Entry System?

Express Entry is a point-based Canada immigration regulatory system developed by the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2015. With this system, the Canadian government can manage skilled worker applications wanting to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents.

Applicants with the highest points receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for PR in Canada.

There are three significant immigration programs under Express Entry –

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

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What is the Eligibility Criteria for Canada Express Entry?

The eligibility criteria for the express Entry are:

A test proving adequate knowledge of English or French
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) positive report
A score of at least 67 points to qualify for some programs
Good medical health
Ability to clear the debt
No age barrier, but no point are awarded for over 47 years

Eligibility criteria for Express Entry differ according to the selected program.

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Related Faqs

Minimum points required to qualify for Express Entry in Canada

The minimum points to qualify for Express Entry in Canada differ according to the programs. For Federal Skilled Trades Class or Canadian Experience Class, no minimum points are required.

To immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Class, you need to score 67 out of 100 points in order to qualify for a Canada PR visa under the Express Entry System. These points are calculated on various factors which include your age, work experience, education, language skills, adaptability, etc.

The maximum points you can obtain for these factors are as follows

Age	Maximum 12 points
Education	Maximum 25 points
Language Proficiency	Maximum 24 points (English and/or French)
Work Experience	Work Experience
Adaptability	Maximum of 10 points
Arranged employment	Additional 10 points (not mandatory).

Requirements to apply for temporary or permanent residence in Canada through Express Entry

The requirements to apply for a visa for Canada are:

You should qualify for at least one visa program under Express Entry
You should have at least 2 years of experience
You should score at least 6 bands in the language test (IELTS exam).
You should meet all the health requirements of Canada.
You should have sufficient funds in your accounts to manage your stay in Canada.

Points calculated for the Express Entry applicants

The points calculated for the Express Entry applicants are decided by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The score an applicant gets depends on four major factors.

The major factors are -

Human capital/core factors
Common-law partner or spouse factors
Skill transferability factors
Additional Points

When you need a job offer for Express Entry?

You do not need a job offer for Express Entry. There are several programs that you can apply that do not require jobs. But, it is vital to check out the eligibility criteria of the program before applying.

Job offers considered valid as per IRCC

The job offers that are considered valid as per IRCC must be –

For at least twelve months (a year).
Backed up by a good Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or excluded from requiring one.
Full-time work and constant.
From the NOC (National Occupational Classification) B, 0, or A.

Job offers that do not require Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

The job offers that do not require Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) are –

Global trade agreements (NAFTA)
Canadian interests
Agreements between provincial and federal governments

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is point-based. It assigns points to applicants after assessing various factors. The factors and sub-factors are explained below.

There are a total of 1200 points. You must remember –

Core or Human Capital factor + Spouse or common-law partner factors = Maximum 500 points
Core or Human Capital factor + Spouse or common-law partner factors + Transferability factors = Maximum 600 points
Core or Human Capital factor + Spouse or common-law partner factors + Transferability factors + Additional factors = Maximum 1200 points

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Human Capital/Core Factors

Factors	Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse	Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse
Level of Education	140	150
Canadian Work Experience	70	80
Age	100	150
Official Language Proficiency	150	160

Levels of Education

Educational Levels	Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse	Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse
Below High-School	0	0
Secondary School	28 (+2 given to spouse)	30
One Year Post-Secondary Course	84 (+6 given to spouse)	90
Two years of post-secondary course	91 (+7 given to spouse)	98
Three or More Years Post-Secondary Course	112 (+8 given to spouse)	120
Two or More Post-Secondary Courses (at least one is finished after three or more years post-secondary course)	119 (+9 given to spouse)	128
Master’s Program	126 (+10 given to spouse)	135
Ph.D. Program	140 (+10 given to spouse)	150

Canadian Work Experience

Time	Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse	Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse
Below One Year	0	0
One Year	35 (+5 given to spouse)	40
Two Years	46 (+7 given to spouse)	53
Three Years	56 (+8 given to spouse)	64
Four Years	63 (+9 given to spouse)	72
Five or Above Years	70 (+10 given to spouse)	80

Age Factor

Age (Years)	Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse	Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse
Below 18	0	0
18	90	99
19	95	105
20-29	100	110
30	95	105
31	90	99
32	85	94
33	80	88
34	75	83
35	70	77
36	65	72
37	60	66
38	55	61
39	50	55
40	45	50
41	35	39
42	25	28
43	15	17
44	5	6
45 or Above	0	0

Official Language Proficiency

Canada has two official languages. They are English and French. You can earn points based on the Canadian Language Benchmark Levels (CLBs).

The language is assigned a score based on various categories.

The categories are-

Writing
Listening
Speaking
Reading

First Language (French or English)

You can score a maximum of 34 points in each category without a spouse. Candidates with a spouse can earn a maximum of 37 points for every category.

Canadian Language Benchmark Levels (CLB)	Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse	Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse
3 or less	0	0
4	6 (+0 given to spouse)	6
5	6 (+1 given to spouse)	6
6	8 (+1 given to spouse)	9
7	16 (+3 given to spouse)	17
8	22 (+3 given to spouse)	23
9	29 (+5 given to spouse)	31
10 or More	32 (+5 given to spouse)	34

Second Language (French or English)

You can score an overall of 24 points without a spouse. Candidates with a spouse can earn an overall of 22 points for every category.

For Each Category, the Maximum Score is 6

Canadian Language Benchmark Levels (CLB)	Points with Common-Law Partner or Spouse	Points without Common-Law Partner or Spouse
4 or less	0	0
5 or 6	1	1
7 or 8	3	3
9 or More	6	6

Common-Law Partner or Spouse Factors

Factors	Points
Educational Level	10
Canadian Work Experience	10
Official Language Proficiency	20

Skill Transferability Factors

Factors		Points	Total Points Per Factor
Non-Canadian Work Experience	CLB 7 or more and Non-Canadian work experience	50	50 (maximum)
Non-Canadian Work Experience	Non-Canadian work experience and Canadian work experience	50	50 (maximum)
Educational Level	Vital language skill and post-secondary degree	50	50 (maximum)
Educational Level	Canadian work experience and post-secondary degree	50	50 (maximum)
Certificate of Qualification	Vital language skill and Certificate of qualification	50	50 (maximum)

There are five possible combinations. But, the maximum score that you can earn from this section is 100.

Additional Factors

Factors	Points
Sibling in Canada	15
CLB 7 or More (for French) and CLB 4 or Less (for English)	15
Finished One Year or Two Educational Courses in Canada	15
CLB 7 or More (for French) and CLB 5 or More (for English)	30
Finished Master’s Degree or Doctorate or Entry to Practice Professional Degree in Canada	30
Job Offer from NOC A, 0 or B	50
Job Offer from NOC Group 00 (Senior Management Position)	200
Provincial Nomination (by Provincial Nominee Program)	600

What Documents are Required for the Canada Express Entry Visa?

The documents required for the Express entry depend on two stages:

Profile submission
Permanent residency application submission

For profile submission you’d need:

Passport
Report of Educational Credential Assessment
Results of the language test
Employment offer (if received)
Provincial nomination ((if accepted)

For permanent residence application submission, you need:

Proof of funds
Police clearance certificate
Medical examination report

Proof of funds

Proof of funds is the way the immigrants show that they have enough finance for immigration to Canada. The programs that require the showing of proof of funds are –

Federal Skilled Trades Program
Federal Skilled Worker Program
Experience Class (CEC) program.

Showing proof of funds for Express Entry

You need to show proof of funds for Express Entry. If it is not required, you must write a letter. The letter must state the reason for not showing it.

The reasons can be -

You have got a valid job offer.
You are invited to apply under the Canadian

Accepted proof of funds

Things that are accepted as proof of funds are –

Money in a joint account (if your spouse is accompanying you)
Cash
Bonds
Treasury bills
Debentures
Money orders
Banker’s drafts
Traveler’s cheque
Official letters from any financial institutions.

These letters must have:

The letterhead of the specific financial institution
Your name
Their contact details
The list of any outstanding debts like loans
All account numbers (if more than one)
The date of the opening of each account
The present balance in the accounts
The average balance calculated for the last six months

Not counted as proof of funds

Things that cannot be counted as proof of funds are –

Valuation of real properties
Borrowed money

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How to Apply for the Canada PR Express Entry Visa?

You can apply to Canada PR express entry by following the steps given below:

Check if you are eligible for the program
Collect all the required documents
Create your Express Entry profile
Submit the profile
The candidates are selected based on their CRS scores
The applicant with the highest score gets an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
After the ITA, candidates have to apply within 60 days for permanent residence
If selected, you have to submit additional documents
After verification, you can get PR in Canada

Check Out the Latest Canada Express Entry Draw here.

What are the Costs Involved in an Express Entry 2020?

The fee that you must submit for Express Entry differs. It depends on your application. The various fee structures are given in the table below.

Nature of Applications	Fees of Express Entry In Canadian Dollars (CAD)
Application Processing Fee + Right of Permanent Residence Fee	$ 1325
Application Processing Fee	$825
Application Processing Fee + Right of Permanent Residence Fee (Spouse or Common-Law Partner Included)	$1325
Application Processing Fee (Spouse or Common-Law Partner Included)	$825
Right of Permanent Residence Fee	$500
Dependent Child	$225 for each child

Other Costs to Consider:

Educational Credential Assessments: around 300 CAD per person
Language tests: around 300 CAD per test
Provincial nomination, if applicable: between 250 CAD (New Brunswick) and 1,500 CAD (Ontario).

Other miscellaneous expenses: certificates, notaries, translations, courier deliveries, affidavits, biometrics, etc.

Overall cost breakdown in each step:

Step 1: Educational Credential Assessment fee in the application stage

An Education Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign degrees

$220+$10 ($10 Courier charges approx)
$220+$85 for Fast Express courier charges. ($85 for Fast Express Courier charges)
Fees for IELTS: Rs. 12,000 to appear for IELTS.

Once you have an ECA outcome letter and IELTS Scorecard, you can move to the next step.

Step 2: Filing your EE Application online (Free of Cost)

Step 3: If you receive an ITA invite, you must then submit your documents online and pay the application fees to begin your visa process.

Application fees for a Canada PR visa:

Single applicant fee: CAD 825 for CIC + 500 (Right to PR Fee) = CAD 1325 (Including visa fees and PR fees)
Couple Applicant Fee: (CAD 825 *2) = CAD 2650 + 500 (Right to PR Fee)
Dependent fee for Child: CAD 225 for each child

Other fees included in this step:

Medical exam: INR 3,000 (varies depending on your source city)
Police certificate: INR 500 (varies depending on your source city)

Step 4: Complete your biometrics

Biometric Fee CAD 85 for a single applicant
Biometric Fee CAD 170 for two or more applicants

Step 5: You will be required to send your passport details

Passport Cost may vary between Rs. 1000 to Rs. 2500. If you already have a valid passport, this cost is removed.
If you apply via a Provincial Nominee Program, you will have to bear extra processing charges from the same.

List of Canadian Provinces & Their Unique Charges

Name of Province	Fees Charged Extra
Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP)	CAD 1500
Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP)	CAD 350
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)	CAD 500
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)	CAD 1150
Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP) (Only for Province of Quebec)	Primary applicant: CAD 785 Spouse or Partner: CAD 168 Dependent Child: CAD 168

Other charges to consider:

Traveling Tickets – The air ticket cost can vary from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1,00,000.
Visa Consultation fee, according to the consultant you choose
Proof of funds

Money required as proof of funds for family members

The money required as proof of funds for family members depends on the number of members. The table below lists the minimum amount that you must show for immigrating to Canada.

Number of Members	Amount Needed (Canadian Dollars)
1	$ 12,960
2	$ 16,135
3	$ 19,836
4	$ 24,083
5	$ 27,315
6	$ 30,806
7	$ 34,299
For Each Extra Member	$ 3,492

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What is the Processing Time for Canada Express Entry Visa?

It usually takes around 6 months to process the application once it is received. It is important for the applicant to provide all the necessary documents before the processing window opens.

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Other FAQs

1. Who handles the Express Entry Programme?

The Express Entry is handled by the Canadian government. The office that oversees the Express Entry is the Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

2. Are CIC and IRCC the same?

Yes, CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) and IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) are the same. The CIC was renamed as IRCC in 2015.

3. What is the Canada express entry draw?

The Canada express entry draw is the method of choosing applicants. In this process, the pool of candidates eligible for invitation to apply is selected based on the announced CRS score. It is done every two weeks, and the highest-scoring candidates are sent to the ITA. They can then apply for a Permanent Residence visa. Canada Express Entry helps immigrants gain permanent residency. You can choose from the various programs available.

4. What is the FSW points grid?

The FSW (Federal Skilled Worker) Points grid is different from CRS. The immigrants filling under the FSWP must score at least 67 out of 100. Only if they score 67 points, are they eligible to apply for the FSWP. The points grid considers six factors. The factors are –

Factors	Maximum Points
Educational Level	25
Age	12
Adaptability	10
Language Skill	28
Work Experience	15
Job Arranged	10

5. Which is the easiest way to move to Canada?

Visitor Visa
Work Permit
Express Entry
Business Investor Program
Study Visa
Provincial Nominee Program

6. What are some important things to factor in with Express Entry?

The Express Entry is an immigration system developed by the IRCC.
There are three immigration programs under Express Entry.
The IRCC handles the Express Entry.
There are several documents that you need to create a profile in Canada Express Entry.
A job offer is not needed to Express Entry.
Some job offers do not require the Labour Market Impact Assessment.
Proof of funds shows that you can live in Canada without any financial issues.
Work experience is necessary for Canada Express Entry.
The spouse of an applicant can also become a permanent resident in Canada.
Several factors determine the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
The FSW points grid is a system that scores applicants under the Federal Skilled Worker Program

7. Why do you need to take a language test for Express Entry?

You need to take a language test for the Express Entry system because it is needed for immigrating to Canada. You need to have the required score in order to create the profile for Express Entry. It shows the concerned officials that you will be able to adapt to the country.

8. Is Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) necessary for Express Entry?

The necessity of the Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) express entry system depends on the program. The program which requires ECA is –

Federal Skilled Worker Program

The programs which do not need ECA are –

Canadian Experience Class
Federal Skilled Trades Program

9. Is the work experience necessary for Canada express entry?

Yes, work experience is necessary for Canada express entry. But, the amount of time required depends on the different programs.

10. Can the spouse of an applicant apply for permanent residency?

The spouse of an applicant can apply for permanent residency. But, for this, the applicant has to claim him/her on the application.

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What is the Canada Express Entry System?

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What is the Eligibility Criteria for Canada Express Entry?

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Related Faqs

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)

What Documents are Required for the Canada Express Entry Visa?

How to Apply for the Canada PR Express Entry Visa?

What are the Costs Involved in an Express Entry 2020?

What is the Processing Time for Canada Express Entry Visa?

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